Qatar fell to a 2-0 defeat against Ecuador from Enner Valencia’s brace on Sunday and with it became the first host nation to lose an opening match at a World Cup tournament.
Striker Valencia had a third-minute effort disallowed for offside in the build-up but then converted a penalty in the 16th and headed the second in the 31st minute of a lopsided affair.
Valencia is Ecuador’s only World Cup scorer as he also netted all of their three goals at the nation’s debut in 2014.
Harmless Qatar face a big challenge to survive the first round, with their other Group A games Friday against African champions Senegal and November 29 against the Netherlands.
South Africa in 2010 are the only previous hosts to be knocked out in the first stage.
The opening match at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor set off the first World Cup during the European winter and in the Arab world, after a difficult build-up with with lots of criticism on Qatar’s human rights record.
The host team had prepared for months for their World Cup debut but then suffered the worst possible start into the big event, even though they got an early let-off.
Fenerbahce’s Valencia thought he had headed Ecuador ahead after a penalty area scramble in which Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb did not look good, but a long video review then determined an offside position in the build-up.
The 2019 Asian champions Qatar never got into the game, and Ecuador’s lead was only a matter of time.
It came in the 16th when Al Sheeb brought down Valencia and the captain cooly slotted into the bottom right corner with the keeper diving the other way.
Valencia headed the second into the bottom left corner in the 31st off Angelo Preciado’s cross from the left before going through a brief injury scare shortly after and then really limping off with 15 minutes left.
Qatar almost got a lifeline on the stroke of half-time but Almoez Ali headed wide completely unmarked.
Ecuador were in full control after the break as well although Qatar threatened once more from a classy late volley by substitute Mohammed Muntari which just went over the bar.
It is all over!
Qatar’s first-ever World Cup match ends in bitter disappointment.
66: Sub!
57: YELLOW CARD! Mendez gets tight to Afif
Second-half is underway!
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Half-time!
Enner Valencia’s brace was the difference between the two sides.
GOAL! Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Enner Valencia doubles Ecuador’s lead against Qatar.
Qatar goalkeeper Al-Sheeb had no chance to save that. That’s now five World Cup finals goals for the Ecuador captain.
20: A rare chance for Qatar!
Estupinan drifts in behind down the left and centres one for Estrada who is only three yards out. He wins the first ball but his header flies over the bar.
Penalty!
GOAL Qatar 0-1 Ecuador
This time the goal will stand, as captain Valencia put Ecuador in front.
Qatar 0-0 Ecuador
Ecuador captain Valencia had the ball in the Qatar net, but the goal was disallowed by the VAR due to offside.
Relief for Qatar.
We are ready for kick-off!
Starting XI: Galindez, Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan, Plata, Mendez, Caicedo, Ibarra, Valencia, Estrada.
Subs: Arboleda, Cifuentes, Pacho, Gruezo, Preciado, Ramirez, Arreaga, Mena, Sarmiento, Palacios, Franco, Dominguez, Reasco, Porozo, Rodriguez.
Starting XI: Saad, Pedro, Bassam, Khoukhi, Abdelkarim, Homam, Al-Haydos, Karim, Aziz, Afif, Almoez.
Subs: Bayati, Salman, Al Aaeldin, Qambar, Muntari, Jibril, Mahmoud, K. Ali, Al Hajri, M. Ali, Barsham, Madibo, Al Hadhrami, Adbulsallam, Tarek.
That’s the wrap as we wait for the kick-off between Qatar and Ecuador.
His highness Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomes everyone to the football carnival!
The party continues as South Korean singer Jung Kook comes onto the stage in the middle of the pitch. Dancers are surrounding the stage and putting on quite the show around him.
We’re now being treated to a remix of different football chants and FIFA World Cup anthems from – it’s called “Chants Of Nations.”
It’s a spectacular sight. The opening performance of Leta’Arafo which is loosely translated to “To Know One Another” involves Morgan Freeman.
The opening ceremony at Al Bayt Stadium – a tent-shaped venue – will be held at 7:40pm, ahead of the first match at 9:00pm.
Few details were available on heads of state attending, but state media said the UN secretary general and Algeria’s president arrived on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also arrived to Doha late on Saturday to attend the World Cup’s opening ceremony on Sunday in a show of Gulf solidarity after a three-year regional dispute ended last year.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani, the deputy of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, was at the reception of Prince Mohammed upon his arrival to Doha, the Amiri Diwan of Qatar said in a statement.
Onstage, the South Korean singer Jungkook, of K-pop boy band BTS will perform a new official tournament song called Dreamers alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi, FIFA said in a statement early Sunday.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that World Cup fans can survive for three hours a day without beer after sales were banned around stadiums.
“I think personally if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive,” he told his opening press conference in Doha. “The same applies in France, Spain, Scotland.”
World Cup chiefs on Friday banned beer sales around stadiums in Qatar in a stunning U-turn, just 48 hours before Sunday’s kickoff.
Alcohol is largely prohibited in the Islamic nation but the organisers sparked fury from fans with their dramatic late decision.
